The King of Cool: Steve McQueen in the Archives

Today’s post is by Jason Atkinson, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives in College Park, MD. It is not every day you open a box full of government records and find an original signed and embossed letter from a major movie star. However, such was the case when I was … Continue reading The King of Cool: Steve McQueen in the Archives

Arnold Palmer: Record-setting Round-the-world Flyer

Today’s post is written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Noted golfing great Arnold Palmer died recently.  His obituaries noted his golfing prowess and his success as a businessman, both in enterprises relating to golf and otherwise. Palmer also held a world record for … Continue reading Arnold Palmer: Record-setting Round-the-world Flyer

The Department of State Reports on the George Foreman-Muhammad Ali Fight (“The Rumble in the Jungle”) 1974, Part II

Today’s post was written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Part 1 discussed preliminary activities relating to the bout, including the “Zaire 74” festival.  In the lead-up to the fight, Foreman's sparring partner inflicted a cut over Foreman's right eye during a training session … Continue reading The Department of State Reports on the George Foreman-Muhammad Ali Fight (“The Rumble in the Jungle”) 1974, Part II

The Department of State Reports on the George Foreman-Muhammad Ali Fight (‘The Rumble in the Jungle’) 1974, Part I

Today’s post was written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. One of Muhammad Ali's signature fights, perhaps even more famous than his wins over Sonny Liston, is the world heavyweight match with George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, in October 1974.  Given that the fight … Continue reading The Department of State Reports on the George Foreman-Muhammad Ali Fight (‘The Rumble in the Jungle’) 1974, Part I

Malvin Whitfield: Ambassador for Track and Field

Today’s post was written by David Langbart, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives at College Park. Malvin "Mal" Whitfield, a gold medal-winning track star of the 1948 and 1952 U.S. Olympic Teams died in November 2015.  He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in June 2016.  Whitfield served in the … Continue reading Malvin Whitfield: Ambassador for Track and Field

Major League Baseball, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and World War II, 1941-1942

Today’s post is written by Dr. Greg Bradsher and Dr. Sylvia Naylor, Archivists at the National Archives at College Park. During the summer of 1940, as German military forces overran France, many Americans began to support the need for compulsory military training in the event that the United States entered the war in Europe. In … Continue reading Major League Baseball, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and World War II, 1941-1942

Rose Bowl game program from January 1, 1942

The [Transplanted] 28th Rose Bowl, Oregon State vs. Duke – January 1, 1942

Today's post was written by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Archivist at the National Archives at College Park. The Oregon State College (now Oregon State University) Beavers football team, under Coach Lon Stiner, started the 1941 season winning two games and losing two games.  One of those victories was a 10-0 shutout of Stanford University and one … Continue reading The [Transplanted] 28th Rose Bowl, Oregon State vs. Duke – January 1, 1942

Golf Diplomacy, 1957

By David Langbart In April of this year, Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, made a state visit to the United States.  In June 1957, Abe’s grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, then Japan’s prime minister, made a similar visit to the United States.  That visit came to symbolize a renewal of the strength of the U.S.-Japan friendship after … Continue reading Golf Diplomacy, 1957

Baseball Patents

Today's post is written by archivist David Pfeiffer Yes, spring is here.  Major League Baseball’s opening day is Monday, April 6.  Finally.  It has been a long cold winter.  As Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby once said “People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball.  I’ll tell you what I do.  … Continue reading Baseball Patents

Skateboarding into Combat

By Jason Clingerman Marines skateboarding into combat... sounds like something out of a Back to the Future sequel, right? Well, as a matter of fact, the U.S. military experimented with using skateboards in combat situations. In the March 1999 exercises known as Urban Warrior '99, the military experimented with the potential use of skateboards to … Continue reading Skateboarding into Combat